Category: Isis Unveiled: H. P. Blavatsky (1877)

""What, then, is produced from death?" inquired Socrates of Cebes. "Life", was the reply. ..."Can the soul, since it is immortal, be anything else than imperishable?" The "seed cannot develop unless it is in part consumed", says Prof. Lecomte; "it is not quickened unless it die", says St. Paul.   A flower blossoms; then withers [...]

"Thus, we find that neither M. Thury, who investigated these manifestations with de Gasparin in 1854, nor Mr. Crookes, who conceded their undeniable genuineness in 1874, have reached anything definite.   Both are chemists, physicists, and very learned men. Both have given all their attention to the puzzling question; and besides these two scientists there [...]

"In many cases of trance, artificially induced by mesmerization, it is also quite possible, even quite probable, that it is the "spirit" of the subject which acts under the guidance of the operator's will.   But, if the medium remains conscious, the psycho-physical phenomena occur which indicates a directing intelligence, then, unless it be conceded [...]

"As Mr. Crookes tells us, Professor Thury refutes "all these explanations, and considers the effects due to a peculiar substance, fluid, or agent, pervading in a manner similar to the luminiferous ether of the scientists, all matter, nervous, organic or inorganic, which he terms psychode.   He enters into full discussion as to the properties [...]

"Professor Thury, who denies the theory of departed human spirits, rejects the Christian devil-doctrine, and shows himself unwilling to pronounce in favor of Crooke's theory (the 6th), that of the hermetists and ancient theurgists, adopts the one, which, he says in his letter, is "the most prudent, and makes him feel strong against every one." [...]

"If every one of the experimenters were clever mesmerizers, the explanation, minus certain important details, might be acceptable. So much for the power of human will on inanimate matter, according to the learned minister of Louis Phillipe.   But how about the intelligence exhibited by the table? What explanation does he give as to answers [...]

"But can the scientists assert that they have in their possession the keys to such law? M. de Gasparin thinks he has. Let us see.   "I do not risk myself to explain anything; it is no business of mine. (?) To authenticate simple facts, and maintain a truth which science desires to smother, is [...]

"The contradictions, and we are sorry to say, the absurdities in which de Gasparin allows himself to be caught, are numerous. While bitterly criticizing the pretensions of the learned Faradaysiacs, he attributes things which he declares magical, to causes perfectly natural.   "If", he says, "we had to deal but with such phenomena (as witnessed [...]

"Let us analyze the above letter, and try to discover what the writer thinks, or rather what he does not think of this new force. One thing is certain, at least: Professor Thury, a distinguished physicist and naturalist, admits, and even scientifically proves that various manifestations take place.   Like Mr. Crookes, he does not [...]

"The opinion of Thury, as we have said, disagrees entirely with Gasparin's theories of will-power. He states it in so many plain words, in a letter, in answer to the invitation of the count to modify the last article of his memoire.   As the book of Thury is not at hand, we translate the [...]